Nearly one in six (17%) Ryanair passengers have been on a flight affected by a disruptive passenger in the last year, a new Which? Travel survey has revealed.
The budget carrier tops Which?’s "shame in the skies" league table, with Thomas Cook (15%) second, Tui (14%) third and easyJet (13%) fourth. In total, Which? surveyed 7,901 members and recorded 12,459 member experiences as part of its annual airlines survey to inform its table.
Overall, one in 10 passengers reported experiencing a flight disrupted by shouting, drunkenness, verbal abuse or other "obnoxious" behaviour.
Incidents included a passenger being "wrestled to the floor" by an off-duty police officer when they were refused more alcohol while another passenger described how a stag party tried to set fire to a seat cover.
The Which? survey comes after the CAA’s stark findings that 2018, as of mid-July, was already on course to be the rowdiest on record with incidents of in-flight drunken behaviour expected to hit record highs.
According to the CAA, the number of incidents involving disruptive passengers reported by UK airlines had increased from 98 in 2013 to 417 last year. And in the six-and-a-half months to July 16 this year, had already reached 202.
Which? says the results of its survey and the CAA data "raises concerns" over how airlines are managing troublesome passengers, particularly those who are drunk - its members further reported "numerous complaints of already drink passengers being served more alcohol on-board".
Although airlines have acknowledged the problem with Ryanair and Jet2.com calling for restrictions on pre-flight drinking, the watchdog says it is time for the airlines to do more to solve the problem.
Rory Boland, Which? Travel editor, said: “People should be able to take a flight without having to worry about their trip being disrupted or journey diverted by rowdy passengers who have had one too many.
“Airlines need to take more responsibility for preventing passengers having too many drinks, and incentivising cabin staff to flog more gin and tonics isn’t the right way to do that.
“Many of us like to enjoy a drink when heading off on holiday, and any measures taken by the aviation industry – and airlines in particular – should be aimed at those who go too far.”